By: Guillen, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Powell) H.B. No. 700
(In the Senate - Received from the House April 29, 2019;
April 29, 2019, read first time and referred to Committee on
Natural Resources & Economic Development; May 9, 2019, reported
favorably by the following vote: Yeas 9, Nays 2; May 9, 2019, sent
to printer.)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the use of the skills development fund by certain
entities.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 303.001(a), Labor Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) The purpose of this chapter is to remove administrative
barriers that impede the response of public community and technical
colleges, community-based organizations, local workforce
development boards, public libraries, and the Texas A&M Engineering
Extension Service to industry and workforce training needs and to
develop incentives for public community and technical colleges,
community-based organizations, local workforce development boards,
public libraries, and the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service
to provide customized assessment and training in a timely and
efficient manner.
SECTION 2. Section 303.002(b), Labor Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(b) A public community or technical college or the Texas A&M
Engineering Extension Service may recover customized assessment
and training costs incurred by the institution if:
(1) there is an actual or projected labor shortage in
the occupation in which training is provided that is not being met
by an existing institution or program in the area; and
(2) the wages at the time of job placement for
individuals who successfully complete customized training at the
public community or technical college or the Texas A&M Engineering
Extension Service are equal to the prevailing wage for that
occupation in the local labor market area.
SECTION 3. Sections 303.003(b), (f), (g), and (h), Labor
Code, are amended to read as follows:
(b) The skills development fund may be used by public
community and technical colleges, community-based organizations,
local workforce development boards, public libraries, and the Texas
A&M Engineering Extension Service as start-up or emergency funds
for the following job-training purposes:
(1) developing customized training programs for
businesses and trade unions; and
(2) sponsoring small and medium-sized business
networks and consortiums.
(f) The Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service shall focus
the service's training activities under this chapter on programs
that:
(1) are statewide in nature; or
(2) are not available from a local junior college
district, a local technical college, or a consortium of junior
college districts.
(g) This section does not prohibit the Texas A&M Engineering
Extension Service from participating in a consortium of junior
college districts or with a technical college that provides
training under this chapter.
(h) A community-based organization may apply for money to
participate in a training program only in partnership with a
community and technical college or the Texas A&M Engineering
Extension Service. A community-based organization providing
services regulated by the state shall provide evidence of any
certification, license, or registration required by law.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
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